^ 


FROM  THE  LIBRARY  OF 


REV.   LOUIS    FITZGERALD    BENSON,  D.  D. 


BEQUEATHED   BY   HIM  TO 


THE   LIBRARY  OF 


PRINCETON  THEOLOGICAL  SEMINARY 


b 


i  Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 

in  2012  with  funding  from 

Calvin  College 


http://www.archive.org/details/sweetpsalmistofiOOwalt 


ft 


%/fflt 


]V(f.  Walters    . 

SERMON 


O  N 


Regular  Singing. 


Vv 


+ 


•« 


The  [met  Pjalmifi  /^Ifrael.      s 

_ ('IFF — Lm 

■ 

SERMON 

Preach'd  at  the  Lefture  held  in  Boston, 
by  the  Society  for  promoting 

Regular  &  Good  Singing, 

And  for  Reforming  the 
Depravations  and  Debafem§nt6 

OUR 

PSALMODY   labours  under, 

In  order  to  introduce  the  proper  and  true 

Old  Way  of  SINGING. 


Now  pubiilhed  at  the  Defire  of  Several  Ministers 
that  heard  it,  and  at  the  Requeft  of  the  Society 
aforefaid.  VV 

By  Thomas   Walter,  M  A. 

Minifter  of  a  Church  in  Roxbury. 

Pial.  T(50.  i. Come  before  his  Frefence  vtith  Singing. 

Pfal.  147.  1.  JPraifs  ye  the  Lord$  for  it  is  good  *o  Jtng 
Jtrai.fi.s  to  our  Gad  ?  for  if  ispleafant^  and  Praife  is  comely. 


BOSTON:  Printed  by  J.  Franklin,  for  S.  Gerrifc 
near  the  Brick  Meeting- Houte  in  Cor?ibittt    ijzz. 


■j*^.j».7*T<---^».'-^-ilaJ=;:?s.Xu<^u.^    xx-  ,;i,,^<!«r-^—  J-  -'i^>i.'j  .■.."?;..    I  — ■  ,1  ,_  '!■  ",■;.'  I  -  jj  ,.  ■  M 


To  the  Honourable 

Paul  Dudley,  Efq; 

One  of  His  Majefty's  COUNCIL  for 
the  Province  of  the  Maffacbujetts*Bay 
in  New-England^  and  One  of  the  Ju- 
ftices  of  the  Superiour  Court, 


SIR, 

H  E  Frequency  and  the  Flat- 
tery of  Dedications,  have 
rendred    them   naufeous    to 
the  prefent  nice  and  carping 
Age,  when  almoft  every  one 
(one  time  or  other)  Hands  ia 
the  Capacity  of  a  Patron, 
or  even  he  who  is  fittelt  for 
it,  is  overloaded  with  Praifes.    This  gives  a 
ready  Difguft  to  the  Reader  3  while  he  enter- 
tains 


The  Dedication; 


tains  the  Prejudice,  either  of  their  being  too 
Common,  or  too  Fulfome :  And  which  Circum- 
ftance  carries  in  it  the  greateft  Odium,  is  not 
eafy  to  be  decided.  But  this  (hall  never  hinder 
me"  from  making  a  Dedication,  till  fuch  time  as 
the  World  can  prove,  that  the  Abufe  oj  any 
Thing  forbids  the  Ufe  of  it. 

4 

Must  not  Merit  be  owned  and  applauded 
where  we  find  it,  becaufe  the  molt  undeferving 
have  had  their  Elogies?  And  muft  Gratitude  ne- 
ver be  made  Public,  becaufe  fome  have  given 
Thanks,  where  they  have  fcarce  received  > 

But  this  is  not  fo  much  the  Defign  of  this 
Dedication,  as   to  requeft  the  Favour  of  your 
leading 
ufual  C 
(tho'  I 
tv  ill  fee 
and  fo 
i-acter* 


over  the  following  Sheets  with  your 
andor,  and  to  accept  them  as  a  Mirror, 
confefs  but  a  dimm  one)  in  which  you 

fomething  ofthefweet  ifalmiji  of  Ifrael, 
far,  an  eminent  Part  of  your  own  Cha- 


S  I R, 

This  Sermon  (with  refpeft  to  its  Publication ) 
is  the  Frrfi'Pr'uits  or'  your  Young  Minifler,  whq 
claims  a  PaflomlCire  from  you,  tho'  of  a  diffe- 
rent Kind  %  and  who  thought  it  his  Duty  to 
make  you  the  Prefent  of  his  firft  Productions. 

The 


The  Dedication: 

The  Society  for  promoting  regular  Singing  are 
to.  be  applauded  for  their  good  and  generous 
Defign  :  God  will  honour  them,  and  I  hope  our 
jChurches  will  not  fail  to  do  fo  too.  I  am  glad 
*to  hear  of  the  Attempts  made  in  another  Coun- 
ty in  profecution  of  the  fame  noble  Defign,  and 
that  the  Reverend  Nlr.  Brown  of  Reading  has  ju- 
ttified  and  put  Refpecl  upon  their  Undertaking, 
by  preaching  a  Sermon  at  a  Singing  Lefture 
there.  I  would  fain  hope  it  will  not  be  long 
e'er  the  Ignorant  will  be  convinced,  that  they 
have  miftaken  Novelty  for  Antiquity,  and  will 
be  brought  to  own,  that  the  prefent  Depravations 
of  our  Tunes  i  which  they  now  fo  pertinaciouily 
adhere  to,  and  unreafonably  infill  upon,  can  lay 
no  manner  of  Claim  to  their  beloved  Title  and 
Denomination  of,  THE  GOOD  OLD  WAY, 

Now,  Sir,  I  hope,  that  the  prefixing  your 
Name  to  this  Difcourfe,  will  add  Authority 
to  the  weight  of  Argument  there  laid  down, 
and  be  of  no  fmall  Advantage  to  the  foremen- 
tioned  Defign,  which  I  am  confident  will  yield 
you  fome  Satisfaction. 

May  the  God  of  Ifrael  increafe  your  Ex- 
cellent Gifts  and  Parts,  efpecially  the  divine 
Skill  of  finging  the  Songs  of  Zion^  and  fliay 
this  be  a  bleffed  Preparative  to  your  joining. 
the  fweet  and  everl#ing  Choirs  above !  May 

you 


The  DEDICATION; 

jrou  improve  in  that  glorious  Exercife  in  the 
Church  on  Earth,  which  fhall  never  have  an 
End  in  Heaven! 


This   is  the  hearty  Prayer  and  Pefire  of 
him  who  is, 


Honoured  S  I  R> 


Tour   mofi  Humble 


rJhid  Obedient  Servant 3 


Tho.' Walter." 


The  fweet  Ffalmift  of  Ifrael. 


2  Sam.  XXIII.   i. 
'The  fweet  Pfalmifi  of  IfraeL 


Must  humbly  make  my  Apology 
for  afcending  the  Desk  at  this  time, 
and  entring  upon  a  Service,  which 
I  know  would  be  much  better  per- 
formed by  many  of  my  Fathers  and 
Brethren  in  the  Miniftry,  in  this 
Place.  And  this  not  only  for  my  felf, 
but  for  thofe,  who  have,  as  it  were, 
broken  thro'  Order  and  Superiority, 
and  defcended  to  fo  low  a  Choice,  as  that  of  the  Perfon 
now  addreffing  this  worthy  Audience,  Their  Excufe  and 
mine  is  this,  That  not  the  Character  of  a  Divine,  fo  much 
as  that  of  a  Pfalmifi  is  under  our  present  Confideration  : 
Not  the  Preacher,  but  the  Sivgey  carried  the  Vote,  which 
laid  him  under  Obligations  to  comply  with  their  Requeft. 

WHEREFORE  that  Juffcice  in  fome   meafure  may  be 
done  to  the  Divine  Science  of  Mufic  and  Ferfe,  I  lhall  have 
done  with  Prefaces  and  Apologies,-and  as  In  my  poor  Man- 
ner 


Wm 

^Ij^fe^^lk1 

C^^^^mW0 

JS^^^^^^^^M^ffl 

t  The  fweet  Tfalmlfl  of  Ifrael. 

ner  I  am  able,  illuftrate,  confirm  and  improve  the  Text 

under  Confideration. 

THE  laft  and  dying  Words  of  Men  ufe  to  be  of  Weight 
and  Importance  with  the  Survivors;  and  by  them  are  wont 
to  be  efleemed  awful  and  full  of  Authority.  How  regard- 
lefs  foever  we  have  been  of  the  Sayings  of  wife  and  good 
Men,  while  they  have  been  with  us;  yet  that  very  Cir- 
cumilance  of  their  leaving  this  World,  gives  Solemnity  and 
Authority  to  what  they  deliver  at  their  Departure  out 
of  it.  Who  knows  not,  that  a  Man  a  dying  is  able  to  make 
a  greater  and  deeper  Impreflion  upon  us,  than  any  of  the 
Living  ?  For  as  Time  is  drawing  to  a  clofe  with  them,  fo 
do  they  fpeak  with  a  more  than  humane  Emphafs,  aricj 
difcover  fuch  an  experimental  Air,  as  cannot  fail  to  touch 
the  Hearers  with  the  moft  lively  and  affecting  Senfe  of 
what  they  would  communicate  to  them.  As  their  Mi- 
nutes are  then  contracted  and  grow  very  precious,  fo  their 
Difcourfe  to  the  Living  grows  malfy  and  full,  it  even  fills 
up  Time  it  felf,  admitting  no  Vacancy  of  Moments  unre- 
pienifhed  with  a  Treafure. 

THE  fourVerfes  following  my  Text  are  worthy  to  be 
tranfcribed  as  fuch,  and  may  ferve  as  a  glorious  Introdu- 
ction to  our  Difcourfe  upon  the  Sweet  Pfalmift  of  Ifrael  ; 
viz.  David*s  Character  as  a  fweet  Singer,  the  Honour  done 
him  by  God  in  the  Record  hereof,  and  the  blelTed  End  a 
Servant  of  God,  famous  for  this  Skill,  may  be  able  to 
make. 

THIS  fweet  Pfalmift  of  Ifrael  /aid  with    a  more  than 

mortal  Eloquence The  Spirit  of  the  Lord  fpake  by  me% 

and  hjs  Word  was  in  my  Tongue.  The  God  of  Ifrael  faidt 
the  Rock  of  Ifrael  fpake  to  me:  He  that  ruleth  over  Men 
viujl  he  jusl,  ruling  in  the  Fear  of  God  ;  and  he  pall  he  as 
the  light  of  the  Morning,  when  the  Sun  rifeth,  even  a  Morn' 
ing  without  t/ouds  ;  as  the  tender  Graft  fpringvig  out  of 
the  Birth  by  tle/tt  Jhinnig  after  Rain*  Althn?  my  Houfe  be 
not  fo  with  God,  yet  he  hath  made  with  me  an  everlasting 
Covenant,  ordered  in  all  things  and  fure  :  For  this  is  all  my 
Salvation  and  all  my  Defirc%  althv    he  make  it  not  to  grow* 


JTl-yl  y 


The  fixe et  Tfaimijl  of  Ifrael.  $ 

HERE  we  have  verified  the  Fable,  of  the  expiring  Swan 
finging  her  own  Elegy  ;  but  with  this  Difference,  that 
our  dying  PCalmift  tunes  his  Voice  to  Notes  of  Joy  and 
Triumph,  and  not  to  the  Keys  of  Mourning  and  Sadnefs. 
Thefe  are  David's  laft  Words,  this  his  dying  Song,  which 
better  than  a  Monument  of  Brafs,  will  confecrate  his 
deathlefs  Fame  to  all  Pofterity. 

BUT  who  and  what  was  he,  that  compofed  and  fung 
this  divine  Song?— «•  It  was  David  the  Son  of Jeffe,  and 
the  Man  who  was  t  at  fed  up  on  high},  the  anointed  of  the 
Qod  of  Jacob.  Even 'the  Son  of  a  common  and  inferior 
Man  in  Iftael,  but  exalted  to  the  Regal  Dignity  and 
Charge  over  that  great  and  holy  Nation,  by  the  anoint- 
ing of  the  God  of  Jacob.  The  laft  Words  of  fo  great  a 
Man,  and  fo  diftinguiihed  in  the  Honours  conferred  upon 
him  by  Heaven,  mult  command  in  us  the  moil:  ferious 
Attention  and  the  higheft  Regard  imaginable.  They  are 
the  rich  Legacy  of  a  dying  Prince,  and  to  be  received  and 
laid  up  as  an  ineftimable  Treafure. 

BUT  this  is  not  all  of  the  noble  Character  of  David  ^ 
which  does  thus  extort  from  us  a  Regard  and  Reverence 
to  this  his  concluding  Speech  and  Song,  He  that  fpake 
it,  was  not  only  a  Godlike  Prince,  preferred  by  God  him- 
felf  before  all  the  great  Perfonages  of  Ifrael  to  the  Inheri- 
tance of  the  Kingly  Power  and  Honours ;  but  he  was  THE 
sweet  Psalmist  of  Israel. 

THIS  Part  of  his  Character  comes  under  our  prefent 
Confideration.  Here  therefore  two  Things  are  to  be  fpo- 
ken  to,  which  will  comprife  the  whole  of  our  prefent 
Difcourfe. 

I.  THE  Charaftcr  of  holy  David. 

II.  THE  Honour  done  him  in  the  Record  of  it. 

I.  THE  CharaBer  of  holy  David  :  The  fvett  PfahniB  of 
Ifrael.  He  was  a  PJalmfft,  which  Title  contains  in  it  two 
things,  namely,  Fuji,  That  as  a  Divine  Pot?,  he  compofed 
Sacred  Songs,  and  Hymns.  Our  Pf alter  is  the  g;ea!  eft  Prut 
of  it,  made  up  of  Divine  Pieces  of  P oefy  written  by  this 
JIanofQod,  w ho  derived  his  fnfpraiion  not  from  Par- 


v«3 


f  The  fweet  Tfalmift  of  Ifrael. 

fiajfus,  but  from  Zion  the  Mount  of  God.  Not  the  fanci- 
ed Mufes  of  the  Heathen,  but  the  Holy  Ghoft  dilated  his 
Song  ;  nor  needed  he  a  Draught  from  the  muddy  Source 
of  Hdicon,  who  had  drank  fo  plentifully  of  the  ftill  and 
pure  Stream  (as  the  almoft  Divine  Milton  expreiTes  it)  flow 
tug  fife-by  the  Oracle  of  God.  Nor  were  the  Subjects  of 
his  Verfe  lefs  Divine,  than  his  Infpration.  Not  forry  Tri- 
fles and  empty  Fables,  but  the  glorious  Themes  of  divine 
Love,  and  Wifdom,  and  Power,  and  Majefty  ;  not  the  im- 
pure and  carnal  Conceits  of  the  profane  Greeks  and  Romans, 
but  the  blelTed  and  holy  Oracles  of  Jehovah,  and  the  cse- 
leftial  Loves  of  Chrift  and  his  Church,  were  fung  by  him 
in  his  immortal  Strain.  Finally,  the  Dejign  and  End  of 
his  Pfalms  were  confecrate  and  pious,  even  to  the  great 
and  good  Intentions  of  the  Glory  of  God,  and  the  Iniiru- 
clion  and  Benefit  of  Men. 

BUT  then,  Secondly,  The  Title  of  Pfahnisl  carries  in  it 
not  only  that  of  a  P%stx  but  of  a  Mvfician  alfo.  Not  only 
the  Pfalms,  but  the  Tunes  to  which  they  were  to  be  fet 
and  fung,  were  his.  And  the  beft  both  of  Jewiih  and  Chri- 
fHan  Interpreters  and  Expofitors  do  give  Countenance  to 
this  Conjecture.  But  be  this  as  it  will,  that  his  Skill 
both  in  Vocal  and  Inilrumental  Mufic  was  famous,  is  al- 
lowed upon  all  Hands.  Whether  or  no  he  compofed  the 
Tunes,  as  well  as  the  Pfalms,  which  he  frequently  fent  to 
the  Pr&centor  ox  Chief  Mufician,  with  his  Orders  for  hav<- 
ing  them  fung  or  played,  may  admit  of  fome  Difpute. 
But  that  he  had  a  thorough  Understanding  of  this  lweet 
and  divine  Science  is  a  matter  pail:  all  doubt.  The  Syriac 
and  Arabic  Verfions  do  favour  our  firft  Conjecture,  and  do 
intimate  the  Improvements  he  made  in  this  Part  of  the 
Divine  Service.  They  render  the  Words,  Jgjii  fuaves  red- 
didit Cantus  Ifraelis  \  Who  made  the  Songs  of  Ifrael  fweet. 
He  raifed  them  to  a  greater  Perfection  and  Sweetnefs,  than 
Jiad  ever  been  in  Ifrael  before.  But  to  put  this  beyond 
all  Difpute,  we  are  in  the  Sacred  Oracles  informed,  that 
David  did  invent  Inftruments  of  Mufic,  which  were  pro- 
fanely imitated,  and  proftituted  to  the  Defigns  of  De- 
bauchery, by  the  wanton  Ifraelites,  in  the  .Days  of  the 

Pro- 


The  fweet  TfalmlU  of  Ifrael,  i 

Prophet  Amos,  Chap,  6.  Verfe  $.  T/jey  /wiwif  fo  them/elves 
Inftruments  of  Mitfic  like  David.  We  alfo  read,  that  he  fe- 
parated  or  fet  apart  to  the  Services  of  Vocal  and  Instru- 
mental Mufic,  the  Sons  of  Afapib,  Heman  and  Jeduthun  , 
appointing  to  every  fingle  Muficiaa  and  to  each  Quire 
their  Parts  in  the  joint  Performance  of  the  Melodies  and 
Anthems  of  the  Temple!  Whether  for  the  Voice,  or  for 
Inftruments,  fuch  as  the  Cymbal,  Pfaltery,  Harp,  the  loud 
founding  or  Treble  Horn;  their  Difpofition  and  Appoint- 
ment was  by  the  King's  Order,  i  Chron-  z$.  r,  2,  6. 
And  this  he  did,  not  meerly  by  Virtue  of  his  Kingly  Au- 
thority, but  as  he  was  the  Chief  Majler  of  the  Temple- 
Mufic,  his  fuperiour  Skill  therein  rendring  him  the  fitteft 
Perfon  in  all  Ifrael  for  that  Office.     But  of  this  enough. 

DAVID  was  the  Pfalmisi  of  Ifrael  5  that  is  of  the  Church 
of  God,  which  wears  this  Name  and  Title,  with  which 
tile  Patriarch  Jacob  was  dignified,  when  he  had  wreftled 
with  the  Angel  of  God  in  Prayer,  and  overcame  :  in  this 
glorious  Inftance  becoming  the  Head  and  Reprefentative 
of  them  th&tfcek  the  Face  of  God,  Plal.  24.  6.  He  became 
thenceforward  the  Father  of  the  Generation  of  wreftlers 
in  Prayer,  the  Prince  of  them  that  prevail  with  the  Al- 
mighty God  of  Jacob.  Ifrael  is  a  molt  proper  and  juffc  Ap- 
pellation of  the  Church  Militant  on  Earth,  who  thro'  holy 
Violence,  irrong  Faith,  and  ardent  Importunity,  maugre 
ali  the  Oppoiltion  of  Hell  and  Earth,  take  the  Kingdom  of 
Heaven  hy  Force.  Math.  n.  12.  O  that  in  this  fweet  Ex- 
ercife  or  Singing,  as  well  as  the  more  laborious  one  of 
Prayer,  we  might  make  fuch  Improvements  and  Progrefs, 
as  to  deferve  the  honourable  Name  of  Ifraelites  indeed  ! 

FOR  the  Ufe  and  Benefit  of  the  Church  then  did  David 
compofe  his  pfabns,  with  Tunes  adapted  to  the  Subject 
Matter  of  them.  It  is  a  very  profitable  and  good  Note 
of  Peter  Martyr  upon  our  Text,  £$uic$v.id  Pii  Dottrina  ha~ 
hent,id  intelhgunt  no?:  fuum,  fed  Ecelefix  ejfe.  A  good  Man 
calls  the  Gifts  &nd  Talents  Heaven  endows  him  with,  not 
his  own,  hut  the  Churches.  With  whatsoever  Skill  the 
Father  of  Lights  inltru&s  us,  it  is  not  defigned  by  God, 
nor  ftiould  it  be  laid  out  by  us,  for  our  private  Ufe,  Profit 

of 


6  The  fcoeet  Tfdtmijl  of  Iff aeL ' 

or  Glory ;  but  for  God  and  his  Church,  And  d  faithful 
Servant  of  God  beholds  all  his  Accornplimments,  whether 
Natural,  Moral  or  Divine,  under  no  other  Notion  or  View* 
than  that  of  fo  many  Confecrations  to  God,  or  Talents 
for  the  Improvement  of  which  he  is  accountable  to  him. 
The  Glory  and  Honour  of  God,  the  Good  and  Edification 
of  the  Church,  is  that  to  which  they  are  to  be  ultimately 
and  at  all  Times  referred.  And  this  is  here  recorded  to 
the  everlafting  Honour  of  King  David,  with  refpeft  to  his 
religious  Improvement  of  his  extraordinary  Poetical  and 
Mufical  Abilities.  Which  hints  a  fevere  Reproof  of  the 
Licentious  Poefy  and  Mufic  of  the  prefent  Age. 

FINALLY,  He  was  a  SWEET  Pfalmisl  ;  in  both  the 
former  Refpe&s,  even  of  his  Mufic  and  his  Poefy.  And  this 
is  what  muft  come  under  a  more  large  and  diftinft  Con- 
fideration.  We  are  now  therefore  to  difcourfe  of  Divine 
Mufic,  and  Divine  Poefy  ;  The  latter  relates  to  the  Sub" 
jctt  matter  of  the  Song,  the  former  to  the  Manner  and  Form 
©f  the  Tune,  to  which  it  is  to  be  fet  or  lung.  Wherefore 

I.  MUSIC  confidered  alone  and  in  it  felf,  is  a  fweet  and 
fleafant  Science.  The  Charms  of  Mufic  are  a  molt  cele- 
brated Subject  among  the  bell  Writers.  And  they  are  fo 
various  and  fo  fweet,  that  it  is  equally  impoffible  to  num- 
ber them,  and  fufficiently  to  admire  them.  There  is  fcarce 
any  thing  in  the  whole  Creation  of  God,  fo  wonderful  and 
aftoniihing,  as  the  Doftrine  of  Sounds  and  Harmony.  We 
fhall  attempt  a  Ditcourfe  of  the  Sweetnefs  of  Mufic  undei 
the  two  following  Heads. 

t.  MUSIC  is  in  its  own  Nature  fweet  and  plea faiit. 
z.  IT  is  fweet  and  pleafant  in  the  various  Effetls  it  pQ» 
duces  in  the  Souls  of  Men. 

I.  MUSIC  is  in  its  own  Nature  fweet  and  plea f ant.  There 
is  a  twofold  Sweetnefs  and  PleaLancy  of  Sounds  and  Mu- 
fical Notes,  according  to  the  belt.  Writers.  There  is,  in 
thej£r#  Place,  a  Natural  or  Phyfical  Sweetnefs  in  the  Notes 
of  Mufic.  When  zfingle  Voice  or  String  of  an  Inlhument 
fo  equally  and  juitly  vibrates  the  Air,  as  to  give  forth  a 
Sound  agreeable  to  the  Organ   of  the  Ear,    Being  free 

frofti 


The  fixeet  TfnlmlB  of  Ifrael.  f 

From  all  Jarr  or  Afperity,  it  ftrikes  the  Auditory  Nerves  in 
fuch  Manner  as  one  V'nifon  String  percufs'd  or  ftrook, 
caufes  the  other  to  fhake  and  tremble.  When  the  external 
Air  is  thus  vibrated,  the  fame  or  a  like  Vibration  is  effe- 
cted in  the  internal  Air  lepofited  in  the  Cavity  of  the  Or- 
gan, and  this  communicates  its  even  and  juft  Motion  to 
the  Nerves  aforefaid.  In  this  Senfe,  even  the  unaffected 
chirping  Notes  and  fmooth  Warbles  of  the  very  Birds  of 
Heaven,  thofe  *  Idle  Muficians  of  the  Springs  who  are  by 
their  Creator,  the  Author  of  all  Mufic,  infpired  with  an 
harmonious  Inftinci;  I  fay,  in  this  Senfe,  even  their  art- 
lefs  Lays  do  ferve  to  pleafe  and  recreate  us. 

BUT  then  Secondly  \  There  is  a  Mathematical  Sweettiefs 
and  Pleafancy  in  Sounds.  This  is  no  other  than  the  Doc- 
trine of  Concords,  to  which  there  are  required  more  Sounds 
than  one,  fo  proportioned  and  diftanced  in  certain  Inter- 
vals, as  to  create  a  pleafant  Harmony  and  Agreement.  The 
Pleafure  arifing  from  this  Mathematical  Sweetjiefs  or  A- 
greement  of  Sounds,  is  a  more  Intellectual  Pleafure  ;  that 
from  the  Phyfical  Sweetnefs,  a  more  Senfual.  Hence  not 
only  all  Men,  but  the  very  Brutes  too  are  capable  of  re- 
ceiving a  Delight  in  a  fingle  pleafant  Sound  or  Voice,  but 
none  of  the  Brutal  Race,  nor  all  of  the  Humane  are  capa- 
ble of  relifhing  the  Melody  arifing  from  the  harmonious 
Agreement  of  a  Diverfity  of  Sounds.  This  requires  a 
tuneful  Soul,  as  well  as  a  good  Ear.  As  a  late  Anony- 
mous Poet  well  exprefles  it— — ^ 

For  Man  may  ]u3ly  tuneful  Strains  admire9 
Mis  SOUL  is  Mufic,  and  his  Breafi  a  Lyre* 
Mufic  the  mighty  Artift,  Man  can  rule, 
So  long  as  that  has  Numbers^  he  a  SOUL* 

HERE  let  it  be  obferved,  that  the  Lovtnsfs  and  ths 
Height  of  Sounds  in  the  Gamut  or  Scale  of  Mufic,  is 
not  cauCed  by  the  Strength  and  Force,  but  the  Frequency 
Of  the    Percuffions,    Strokes,   or  Tremors    of    the  Air- 

And 

<— — i — wag— w— — —  i,    — —     ii  ■— m— Bmiiii       <■' 

*  J,oi4  Rofeommoris  148  Pfalm, 


S  The  fwect  TfalmiU  of  Ifrael; 

And  when  the  Numbers  of  Tremors  or  Percuflions  of 
the  Air  caufed  by  two  Sounds,  are  proportionable,  there 
is  an  harmonious  Agreement  of  thofe  two  Sounds ;  but 
if  difproportionate,  a  Difcord  is  produced.  Thus  an  Oc 
tave  or  Eighth  to  a  graver  Sound,  gives  the  Air  two 
Percuflions  or  Tremors  to  the  others  one.  So  they 
coincide  every  other  Tremor  ;  and  one  to  two  is  propor- 
tionate. The  like  may  be  faid  of  all  other  Chords,  A 
Unifon,  or  two  Notes  on  a  Pitch,  is  when  two  Sounds 
give  the  Air  an  equal  Number  of  Pulfes  or  Strokes,  and 
therefore  fo  coincide  in  every  Pulfe,  as  to  become  but 
one  and  the  fame  Sound. »  So  that  the  Proportions  that 

pleafe  the  Eye  in  any  Vifible  Objefts,  are  found  to  pleafe 
the  Ear  in  Audible  Objects.  And  when  two  Concordant 
Notes  of  different  Heights  are  Sounding,  were  the  Sight 
of  our  Eyes  fo  ilrengthened  and  rendred  fo  acute,  as  that 
we  could  accurately  infpect  and  difcern  the  Particles  of 
vibrated  Air,  we  fnould  fee  the  Tremors,  or  Vibrations 
of  the  Air  proportionate  in  Arithmetical  Numbers-'  But 
while  I  am  thus  wading  in  the  depths  of  Philofophy,  I  had 
almoft  forgot  the  chief  Thing  I  firil  aimed  at,  when  I 
mentioned  the  mathematical  Swcetnefs  of  Sounds,  and  that 
is  as  follows. 

THE  Mufic  of  the  Temple,  as  it  was  under  the  Ma- 
nagement and  Diredion  of  our  Swat  Pfahnift  of  Ifrael, 
was  a.  Chorus  of  Parts.  The  Singers  and  the  Players  upon 
Inftruments,  were  divided  into  THREE  Sets  or  Quires. 
One  for  the  Bafs,  another  for  the  Mcdms  or  inner  Parts; 
the  third  for  the  Trebles  or  Altush.  Mr.  Ford,  in  his 
Preface  to  his  Expofition  on  the  Pfalms9  has  done  to  my 
Hand,  what  I  might  have  attempted  ;  even  to  prove  that 
Mufic  in  Parts  (in  lpight  of  popular  Ignorance,)  is  as  An- 
cient as  the  Times  of  holy  David. I  lhall  tranilate  in- 
to this  Sermon,  what  he  lays  upon  this  Head. 

THE  Modulation  (fays  he)  of  the  Voice  only,  or  upon 
an  Inftrument  only,  or  both  together,  (Pfal.ji.  zx>  and 
98.5.  and  33.  2,  5.  and  147.  7.  and  149.  3.  and  57.8,9-) 
vas  generally   and  for  the  molt  part  performed  in  three 

Parts, 


§ ••■. 


The  /met  Pfalmijl  of  Ifraei;  $ 

Tarts,  according  to  the  Number  of  Concords  in  the  Oftavs* 
For  a  Tone  oifSound  is  either 

i.  Low,  which  is  Grave,  and  is  called  the  Baft,  Or 

2.  Middle,  which  is  commonly  called  the  Medtut,  of 
Tenor.     Or 

3.  High,  which  is  called  the  Alt* 

THESE  with  their  O&aves  and  Variations,  comprife 
the  whole  of  all  Mufic,  and  all  of  them  were  found  in  theis 
Worfhip.  [Shemhnth]  A  Noun  Adjedive  Feminine,  fignify- 
ing  [an  Eighth]  is  ufed  to  defign  or  fignify  the  Eigbtb 
Voice,  or  Eighth  Tone  inMufie,or  Eighth  Modulation  of  the 
Voice,  which  in  defcending  may  be  called  the  lowcjl  Tone. 
Therefore Tremdlms  and  Junius  render  [  hhal  haffbtminith\ 
1  Cbron.  15.  *i-  Pfal  6*  u  By  thefe  Words,  [To  a  grave  and 
low  Symphony]  that  is,  to  a  Bafs  Note  and  Key.  And  be- 
caufe  in  1  Chron.  15.21.  \lecinomlj\  or  [with  Harps']  is 
added,  We  may  gather  thus  much,  that  Ethan  oxjeduthum 
lead  upon  the  Bafs,  or  had  the  Regulation  of  the  lower 
Parts,  and  that  the  Bafs  was  play'd  upon  that  Inftrument. 
And  therefore  he  was  the  Mailer  and  Moderator  of  that 
Part,  which  we  call  the  Bafs,  or  at  leaft  of  fomething 
analogous  to  it. 

2.  [Hhalmah]  A  Noun  fignifying  the  Age  of  Virginity 
is  ufed  in  the  Plural  Number  for  a  Mufical  Tone  orSoun  J 
at  the  Heighth  of  a  Female  Voice,  which  is  an  08av& 
above  that  of  a  Man*  Wherefore  [Hhal  hhalamoth]i Chron* 
15.  20.  VfaU  46.  I.  [With  Pfalteries  on  Alamo  th.}  Junius 
and  TremeUius  render  [To  an  acute  Symphony]  or  to- the  AU^ 
Now,  fince  thefe  Tunes  upon  Alamoth  were  play'd  upon* 
the  Pfaltery,  and  fince  it  is  as  certain,  that  this  Part  & 
atfigned  to  the  Sons  of  Corah,  it  may  be  concluded,  that: 
Neman  was  the  Mailer  and  Moderator  of  the  Jltus  or  high- 
eft  Part.  * 

3.  Afaph 

*  I  know  not  why  the  Opinion  of  Pythagoras  being  the  firfty  tha8 
in  Oppofition  to  Ari/texenus,  reduced  the  Scale  of  Mufie  to  the 
>ieafure  of  Us  Qttay^  may  not  fcosxi  hense   be  sefwsd^  and 

£        "        "     .7  Why 


ii  The  facet  Pfalmijl  of  Ifrael; 

5.  JfapJj  therefore  was  the  Mailer  of  the  Medius  or  mid- 
dle Quire,  and  the  Inftrument  ufed  by  them  was  that  of 
the  Cymbal.        . 

UPON  the  whole,  this  Author  gives  us  a  general  Rule 
of  judging  to  what  Part  and  Keys  every  Pfalm  was  defign- 
ed,  from  the  Name  of  the  Matter  of  Mufic,  from  the  In- 
ftrument on  which  it  was  to  be  plaid,  or  the  initial 
Words  of  fome  other  well  known  Divine  Song  in  ufe  at 
that  Time  ;  which  the  Reader  may  learn,  if  tie  diligently 
observes  the  Infcriptions,  &c.  of  the  Pfalms,  and  compares 
them  with  what  has  been  faid  above. 

BUT  it  is  Time  to  pafs  on  to  the  Second  Particular, 
which  is, 

z.  MUSIC  u  fweet  and  plea f ant,  if  we  confider  the  vari- 
ous EffeBs  it  is  capable  of  producing  in  us.  There  is  fome- 
thing  in  Mufic,  which  is  congenial  to  the  Soul,  and 
which  for  this  ReaCon  makes  a  ready  PalTage  into  its  in- 
anoft  ReceiTes.  It  has  a  Power  to  ftrike  it  after  the  moft 
agreeable  Manner,  and  to  affect  it  with  the  Senfe  of  a 
ifrange  and  admirable  Pleafure.  There  is  a  certain  fecret 
Sympathy  between  the  Soul  and  Harmony,  which  made 
a  Philofopher  mentioned  in  the  Margin,  define  it,  An  Har- 
mony%  Verily,  the  Joy  arifing  henc«  is  truly  refined  and 
fublime  /  The  ingenious  Cowley,  well  espreffes  the  Power 
Muficians  may  exercife  over  Men  : 

Thus  they  our  Souls,  thus  they  on?  "Bodies  win, 
Not  by  their  Force,  but  Party  •  that's  within* 
So  when  two  Brethren  Strings  are  fet  alike, 
To  move  them  both,  hit  onz  of  them  we  ftrike. 

BUT 


why  we  may  not  fuppofe,  that,  fince  learned  Men  have  fully  prov- 
ed the  Derivation  and  Stealth  of  all  Arts  and  Sciences  from  the 
Jews  to  the  Gentile  Fhilofiphers,  this  among  other  Pieces  of  Learn* 
itg,  came  to  Pythagoras  the  fame  Way.  And  without  doubt  the 
Bivine  Mufic  performed  to  Jehoyab  in  his  Temple,  was  in  a  great 
Mtafure  by  Divine  Infpiration,  as  well  as  the  Architecture  of  the 
Tabernacle  (initfelfa  more  Mechanical  Par l)  was  in  Model  an4 
Idea  given  to  Aboliab  and  Bezaleel.  Exod.  31.  3.  /  have  fifed  him 
xtith  the  Spirit  of  God,  in  Wifdom  and  in  Under  ft  anting,  <tn&  in 
Knowledge,  and  in  all  munacr  *f '  Wnkmafityip* 


fbe  fweet  Tfalmift  of  Ifrael  *J& 

BUT  let  us  come  to  the  Theological  Confideration  of  the 
Point,  and  fhew  the  bleffed  Influence  and  Effefts  of  Harmo- 
ny upon  the  Soul,  as  it  is  helpful  to  Devotion,  either  to 
excite,  affift,  promote  or  preferve  it. 

i.  IT  creates  a  most  hlejfed  Strenity  and  quiet  Calm  in  the 
Soul  of  the  Worjbipper.  He  that  would  worfhip  God  a* 
right,  ought  to  polfefs  a  quiet  Mind,  free  from  the  Dif- 
turbance  and  Agitation  of  paffions.  So  when  the  Soul  of 
holy  David  was  difquieted  in  him,  he  knew  not  how  to 
apply  himfelf  to  the  fweet  Exercife  of  Singing  in  the  Tem- 
ple. Pfah  41.  i.i.  and  43.  4.  His  Thoughts  within  him> 
were  tumultuous,  and  various  Paffions  haunted  his  Breaftv 
while  he  was  revolving  in  his  Mind  the  Oppreffion  of 
the  Enemy,  his  Abfence  from  the  Houfe  of  God,  and  othes 
afflictive  and  diftreffing  Themes;  he  became  hereupon 
•wholly  unfit  for  religious  Exercifes.  So  the  Jews  in  the 
Balylomjb  Captivity  hung  their  neglected  Harps  upon  the 
WiLows,  when  they  remembred  Zion,  and  their  once  glo- 
rious and  happy  State,  amidft  the  Infults  of  their  barba- 
rous Enemies.  Say  they,  How  Jball  we fing  the  Lord? s  Songs 
in  a  ftrange  Land  ?  Pfal.  137.  4.  Whieh  is  a  fure  Proof 
how  driving  Paffions,  fuch  as  Anger,  Grief,  Hatred,  Fear, 
£f<;.  do  ruffle  the  Soul,  and  wholly  indifpofe  it  to  the 
Exercifes  of  Religion  and  Devotion.  Any  further  Proof* 
from  Scripture  are  neediefs.  All  that  I  (hall  Remark  up- 
on thefe  Inftances  is  this,  when  they  were  fo  unfitted  for 
Devotion,  as  that  they  had  not  the  Inclination  or  Powes 
to  play  upon  their  Har$s>  their  very  Harps,  had  they  ufed 
them,  would  have  been  their  Cure,  and  have  allayed  the 
very  Paffions,  which  forbad  them  to  play. 

LET  us  now  confider  the  Charms  of  Mufic^  how  do 
they  fobthe  the  Soul  to  Reft,  and  reduce  it  to  an  heavenly 
Quietude  and  Temper!  How  do  they  allay  the  turbid 
Paffions,  and  chace  the  Difturbers  out  of  our  Breaft  !  Mufie 
has  a  natural  Tendency  to  this.  For  as  it  is  capable  o£ 
being  fo  ordered,  as  to  raife  and  increafe  tumultuous  Paffi- 
ons in  the  Soul  \  fo  no  lefs  to  allay  and  quiet  thefe  Dif- 
orders.  The  Story  ofTimotheus,  who  with  his  Harp  change 
ed  the  Temper  of  Alwrndtr,  as  often  as  he  pleafed"  to 
&  change 


fa  Wfbe  /met  Tfalmiji  <f  Ifraei: 

change  his  Notes  and  Keys ;  either  *  to  fwll  his  Soul  to 
Rage,  or  enkindle  the  fofter  Paflions,  or  to  lull  it  into  a 
total  Calm.  The  Stories  alfoof  Pythagoras,  Jfclepiades,  and 
others  mentioned  by  Gronovius  and  Kircher,  are  a  full  Proof 
of  the  Power  of  Harmony,  either  to  raife  or  to  calm  the 
Paflions.  The  Thracian  Orpheus  taming  wild  Beafts,  and 
.disarming  them  of  their  Fury,  is,  if  we  moralize  the  Fable, 
t  no  other  than  his  fubduing  the  fierce  Tempers  and  Pafli- 
ons of  that  brutal  and  favage  People  of  Thrace,  reclaiming 
them  to  Civility,  and  making  them  Manageable  by  his 
Mufic* 

BUT  if  Mufic  alone  can  by  its  natural  Force  and  Charms 
work  thefe  Effects,  what  may  not  Divine  Harmo ny,  under 
the  Influence  and  Co-operation  of  Heaven,  be  able  to  pro- 
duce in  the  Soul  of  the  Worfhipper  !  Pfal.  4$.  3,4.  Send 
forth  thy  Light  and  thy  Truth  $  let  them  bring  me  to  thy  ho- 
ly Hilly  and  to  thy  Tabernacle:,  Then  will  I  go  to  the  Altar 
of  God,  unto  God   my  exceeding  Joy  :    (  or  the  Gladnefs  of 

my  3°y  )  &a»  uPn  tto  ttAY2  wtt  Ipraifc  thee,  0  God,  my 
God! 

2.  MUSIC  it  of  good  ufe  to  fufpend  and  cure  the  evil  and 
malign  Influences  of  Satan  on  the  Soul,  Befides  our  natural 
Paflions,  which  are  oftentimes  turbid  and  troublefome,  and 
fo  do  unfit  the  Soul  for  Devotion,  Satan  may  be  permitted 
to  interpofe  his  Agency  and  Influence,  to  increafe  and 
heighten  thefe  Diforders  of  the  Mind.  When  we  give 
way  to  finful  Paflions,  Satan  finds  an  eafy  Paflage  into  the 
Soul.  He  ufually  makes  his  Entrance  thro'  a  Storm,  and 
like  a  true  hater  of  Peace  and  Harmony,  takes  a  malicious 
and  cruel  Pleafure,  in  his  Manfion  of  Difcord  and  Uproar. 
Had  we  not  upon  Sacred  Record  the  Inftance  of  Saul,  &c. 
I  believe  we  need  not  go  very  far  to  feek  Inftances  enough 
of  Perfons  agitated  and  aded  by  the  Furies  of  Hell.  But 
to  go  no  farther  than  that  of  Saul,  t  Sam.  16.  14,  The  Spi- 
rit of  the  Lord  departed  from  Saul,  and  an  evil  Spirit  trow 
lied  or  terrified  him*    His  Servants  gave  very  proper  Advice 

ia 


*  Vrjietfz  Ode,     t  Dittus  ob  bn  Isuivt  Tizres,  rdbidofoc  leontu 

Uyt  Art  pet. 


The  f  bee t  Tfalmlfi  of  IfraeL  f| 

In  this  Difficulty,  &c.  That  a  fweet  Mufician  or  Harper 
ihould  be  found  to  play  before  the  King  upon  his  feizure 
with  the  fatanical  Paroxifm.  Ver.  25.  And  it  came  to  pafs9 
when  the  evil  Spirit  from  God  was  upon  Saul,  that  David 
took  an  Harp  and  played  with  his  Hand ;  fo  Saul  was  re- 
frejbed  and  was  well,  and  the  evil  Spirit  departed  from  him* . 
His  Terrors  vanifhed,  the  D Anion  fled  precipitant  from  the 
Harmony,  and  his  burdened  Mind  ftrait  grew  eafy  and 
fweetly  compofed.  An  heavenly  Light  darted  into  his 
Soul,  and  all  was  calm  and  bright,  ferene  and  joyous,  Or 
to  ufe  the  Words  of  the  fweet  Cowly, 

■His  Harp  did  Saul'*  wild  Rage  contrdul,  H 

And  tune  the  harjb  Diforders  of  his  Soul, 

What  the  HyperlolizSng  Vindar  faid  to  his  Harp,  [Ton 
aicmaton  keraunan  sherinueis]  thou  quencheft  the  raging  Thu?t- 
der,  may  with  much  better  Juftice  be  afcribed  to  the  Harp 
of  David,  which  wrought  mightier '  Effects  and  more 
amazing  Feats,  which  could  ffcill  a  louder  and  more  angry 
Thunder  than  that  of  the  Firmament,  and  filence  and  put 
to  flight  a  raging  Damon. 

BUT  it  muft  be  Mufic  with  the  Confort  of  the  holy 
Spirit,  even  the  religious  Mufic  of  the  Soul,  joined  with 
that  of  the  Voice,  which  muft  work  thefe  bleffed  Effects 
in  the  Soul  of  him,  who  is  preparing  himfelf  to  call  upon 
God,  and  to  approach  him  in  the  tsercifes  of  Devotion, 
and  holy  Communion.  When  thefe  go  together,  not  only 
does  the  evil  Spirit  depart,  and  ceafe  to  difturb  us  (  as  in 
the  Cafe  of  Saul )  but  the  holy  Ghoft,  tjiat  heavenly 
Gueft  will  return,  and  infpjre  us  and  fill  u§  with  all  Joy 
and  Confolation.  That  Mufic  is  of  ufe  in  this  Matter,  not 
only  to  cure  the  evil  Influences  and  malignant  Impreflions 
of  Satan,  but  alfo  to  prepare  our  Souls  for  the  Entrance 
of  the  holy  Ghosi  into  this  his  fpiiitual  Manfion  and  living 
Temple,  may  be  argued  from  the  Manner  of  Frophefying 
ufed  by  fome  of  the  \* rophets.  Thus  Elijha,  1  King.  3.15. 
~But  now  bring  me  a  Minftrely  and  it  came  to  pafs,  when  the 
Mmjirel  f>layed}  that  the  Hand  of  the  Lord  came  upon  him. 

B  l  The 


rl4.  The  Jwcet  Pfalmjl  of  Ifrael- 

i 

The  Note  of  TremeUms  and  Junius  *  is  very  jufl:  and  good. 
By  the  help  of  this  Mufic,  the  Soul  of  the  Prophet,  juft  be- 
fore d/fcompo  fed   and  roiled  at  the  fight  of  the  wicked  King 
of  Ifrael,  was  compofed  and  calmed ,  and  fo  prepared  to  de- 
liver the   heavenly  Oracle  $  and  they   that   heard   it  were  hy 
its Sweetnefs  better  prepared  for  the  Reception  of  it.     And 
tbofe  Words,  The  Hand  of  the  Lord  came  upon   him,   the 
forementioned  Expofitors,  by  a  Metonymy,  interpret  of  the 
Prophetic  Energy  and  Rapturet    into   which   the  Prophets 
were  caft,  when  the  Spirit   vifited  and  took  Poffeffion   of 
them;  in  a  Word,  the  Gift  of  Prophecy.    And  here  I  can- 
not forbear  tranfcribing  the  Words  of  Bifliop  Beveridge 
upon  this, Subject,  of  Mufic,  which  may  at  once  illuftrate 
this  and  the  following  Head.    Says  he,  §  "  Mufic  exercifes 
"  at  once  both  my  Body  and  my  Soul,  &c.   it  calls  in  my 
(t  Spirits,  compofes  my  Thoughts,  delights  my  Ear,  recre- 
*l  ates  my  Mind,  and  fo  not  only  fits  me  for  after  Bufinefs, 
••  but  fills  my  Heart  at  the  prefent  with  pure  and  ul'eful 
«' Thoughts;  fo  that  when    the  Mufic  Sounds  fweetlieft 
■«?  in  my  Ears,  Truth  commonly  flows  the  cleareft  into   my 
«'  Mind.  And  hence  it  is,  that   I  find  my  Soul  is  become 
**  more  Harmonious,  by  being  accuftomed  io  much  to  Hir- 
€i  many,  and  fo  averfe  to  all  manner  of  Difcord,   that  the 
6i  leait  jarring  Sounds  either  in  Notes  or  Words,  feeiri  ve- 
et  ry  harih  and  unpleafant  to  me. 

"  THAT  there  is  (fays  he)  fomething  more  than  ordi- 
€t  nary  in  Mufic,  appears  from  David's  making  ufe  of  it, 
Cl  for  driving  away  the  evil  Spirit  from  Saul  ^  and  Elijba 
"  for  the  bringing  the  good  Spirit  upon  himfelf.  From 
•*  which  I  am  induced  to  believe,  that  there  is  really  a 
•'  fort  of  fecret  and  charming  Power  in  it,  that  naturally 
"  difpels  from  the  Mind,  all  or  moft  of  thofe  black  Hu- 
"  mours,  which  the  evil  Spirit  ufes  to  brood  upon,  and 
*l  by  compofing  it  i:ito  a  more  regular,  fweet,  and  docible 
H  Difpofition,  renders  it  the  fitter  for  the  Holy  Spirit  to 
*'  work  upon,  the  more  fufceptive  of  Divine  Grace,    and 

"  the 

?•  Vid.  Jun.  gf  Tremell.  in  Locum.        §  Private  Thoughts* 
■  P.  18a.  iV.  Eng,  Edition. 


The  fweet  Tfalmifi  of  IfraeE  1 5 

"  more  faithful  MefTenger,  whereby  to  convey  Truth  to 
"  the  Understanding,  &c— —  My  Spirits  are  thereby  made 
"  the  more  nimble  and  a&ive,  and  by  Confequence,  the 
u  fitter  to  wait  upon  my  Soul,  and  be  employed  by  her, 
"  in  whatsoever  Bulinefs  (he  is  engaged. 

THUS  far  he  ;  and  this  is  not  the  only  Inftance  of  the 
Ufe  of  Mufic  in  Prophefying^  ( which  Word,  by  the  Way, 
is  not  to  be  reftrained  to  what  we  call  Predittioji,  or  the 
foretelling  future  Events  by  the  Revelation  of  the  Spirit 
of  God,  but  comprifes  alfo  in  its  Meaning,  the  Power  or 
Faculty  of  uttering  any  fort  of  Divine  Dilcourfes,  by  vir- 
tue of  an  Impetus  or  immediate  Power  from  the  holy  Spi- 
rit) I  fay,  this  is  not  the  only  Inftance  of  the  Ufe  of  Mu- 
fic in  order  to  Prophefying.  The  forementioned  Saul  meet- 
ing a  company  of  Prophets  with  their  Mu[\c  in  the  pro- 
phetical Exercife,  is  a  further  Confirmation  of  the  Argu- 
ment before  us.  i  Sam.  10.  5,  6.  After  that,  thou  Jhalt  corns 
to  the  Hill  of  God,  where  is  the  Garrifon  of  the  Philiftines, 
and  it  JJjall  come  to  pafs  when  thou  art  come  thitherto  the 
City,  that  thou  Jhalt  meet  a  company  of  Prophets  coming 
down  from  the  high  Place,  with  a  Pfaltery,  and  a  Tabret,  and. 
a  Pipe,  and  a  Harp  before  them,  and  they  Jball  Prophefy, 
And  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord  will  come  upon  thee,  and  thou 
Jhalt  Prophefy  with  them,  and  Jhalt  he  TURNED  INTO 
ANOTHER  MAN. 

BUT  to  have  done  with  particular  Inftances,  let  me  add, 
that  not  only  fingle  Perfons  have  occasionally  made  ufa 
of  Mufic,  as  a  fit  preparative  for  the  Reception  of  the 
Spirit  of  God,  but  the  fated  Quires  of  the  Church  of Tfrael 
in  their  Ordinary  Worjbip,  propofed  no  lefs  Benefit  from 
this  divine  Science,  according  to  the  Appointment  oE 
God.  So  the  Sons  ofjeduthun,  Gedaliah,  Zeri,  See.  under 
the  Hands  of  their  Father  Jeduthun,  prophsfied  with  an  Harp 
to  give  Thanks  and  to  Praife  the  Lord.    1  Chron.  2,5.  3. 

UPON  the  whole  we  may  conclude,  that  Mufic  is  not 
only  a  Means  provided  by  the  God  of  Nature  and  the  Au- 
thor of  all  Religion,  to  difpel  and  drive  away  the  evil 
Influences  of  Satan,  but  alfo  to  prepare  the  Soul  for  the 
Reception  of  the  Infpiration  of  the  holy  Spirit.   Nor  will 

B  4  th& 


^6  The  fvoeet  Tfalmlfl  of  Ifrael. 

the  Objection  of  any  thing  Typical  or  Extraordinary  ifi 
thefe  Matters  take  away  the  Ufe  of  that  which  then  had 
a  natural  Subferviency  and  Tendency  to  produce  thefe 
good  ErTe&s,  and  prepare  the  Soul  for  the  fublimeft  Per- 
formances in  Religion  and  Worihip.  But 

3.  MUSIC  happily  ferves  to  fix  the  Mind  upon  religious 
Ohjctts,  abStrafiing  the  Soul  from  every  Diver/ion.  It  fweet- 
ly  fixes  the  wandring  Spirit,  making  us  retire  within  our 
felves,  and  be  wholly  employed  in  the  prefent  holy  and 
delightful  Exer.cife,  It  reduces  the  Mind  to  fuch  a  i'wcet 
Compofure,  as  that  all  our  Attention  is  fattened  upon  the 
Subjed  of  our  Devotion.  This  Fixednefs  of  Soul  is  a  ne- 
ceffary  Preparation  for  our  Entrance  upon  any  Religious 
Employments,  efpecialiy  thofe  of  the  Temple.  So  we  find 
holy  David addreffing  himfelf  to  the  Worfhip  ofGod%PfaL 
57.  7,8.  My  Heart  is  fixed,  [or  prepared  ;  a  fixed  Heart 
is  a  prepared  Heart.]  0  God,  my  Heart  is  fixed  ;  /  willfing 
and  give  Praife.  Awake  my  Glory,  awake  Pj falter y  and  Harp ; 
I  my  f elf  will  awake  early.  Divine  Mufic,  under  the  Con- 
duft  and  Influence  of  the  bleffed  Spirit,  the  Author  of  all 
inward  and  fpiritual  I$armoqy,  is  an  effe&ual  Remedy  for 
thofe  defultory,  loofe,  and  vagrant  Frames  of  Spirit,  which 
the  moft  devout  Chriftians  oftentimes  experience,  and 
as  often  bewail.  It  colleds  the  fcattered  Powers  of  the 
Mind,  and  fo  unites  them,  that  the  Soul  with  unwonted 
Vigour  and  Strength  mounts  as  on  the  Wings  of  Eagles, 
purfuing  the  glorious  Flight,  till  ihe  is  gotten  beyond 
the  View  of  mortal  Things,  and  enters  the  holy  of  holies  a- 
bove.  Then  is  me  rais'd  and  tranfported  beyond  the  Limits 
of  Time  and  Senfe,  and  is  feared  in  the  Lap  of  Eternity; 
where  (he  dwells  upon  everlafting  Themes,  and  becomes 
a  fharer  in  the  fweet  anci  uninterrupted  Blilfes  of  Angels 
and  glorified  Saints* 

4.  MUSIC  is  of  good  Ufe  in  Religims  IVorJbip,  to  excite 
Mid  imp-rove  fyit/ible  and  proper  Jjfeftions,  according  to  the 
Diverfity  of  Subjefis,  about  which  it  is  employed.    The  God 
of  Mature  has,  befide  the  Intellectual  and  Vohtive  Faculty, 
Implanted  in  the  j3oul  of  Man,  divers  Affections  and  Paf- 

fjons. 


The  J wet  Pfalmijl  *f  Ifraet  if 

fions.  Thefe  are  fo  many  M  nifters  to  the  fuperior  Powers 
of  Understanding  and  Willing.  Arid  by  Confequence,  as 
thefe  two  are  the  prime  Faculties  of  the  Soul,  which 
ought  ever  to  be  firfb  in  Exercife  in  our  religious  Approa- 
ches to  the  Divine  Being,  (the  Intellect  being  the  Power 
of  fpiritual  Apprehenfion,  Knowledge  and  Faith,  and  the 
Will  the  Principle  of  Divine  Love,  and  all  Devotion,  )  I 
fay,  as  thofe  two  Faculties  are  primarily  and  principally 
employed  in  all  religious  Exerciles ;  fo  thefe  Affe&ions 
and  Paffions  be  of  fubordinate  Ufe,  and  are  fubfervient  to 
the  fame  Defignsof  Religion  and  Devotion.  For  it  was  a 
grofs  Miftake  in  thofe  Philofophers,  who  aiTerted  them 
to  be  but  the  Foibles  or  WeakneiTes  of  Ph&Soul,  and  nktttm 
rally  Sinful,  No,  they  are  naturally  and  phyficaliy  Good, 
and  when  they  have  been  endowed  with  the  Sanctificatiori 
of  the  Holy  Ghofr,  they  are  of  great  and  noble  Ufe  in 
Religion.  This  may  ferve  to  illuitrate  that  of  the  Apoftle 
Paul,  i  ThelT.  5.13.  where  he  prays,  that  the  God  of  Peace 
would  fanclify  them  wholly ,  and  pre] 'ewe  their  whole  Spirit^ 
Soul  and  $odyy  &c.  That  is,  not  only  the  fuperior  Powers 
pf  the  Mind,  fuch  as  the  Intellect  and  Will ;  and  the  infe- 
rior and  mechanic  Powers  of  the  Body;  but  alfo  tht  pajtor 
nate  and  affectionate  Part,  which  is  of  a  mixt  Nature,  part- 
ly Animal  and  partly  Spiritual.  Now  when  thefe  are 
fanclified,  they  become  capable  of  a  moft  excellent  Ufe  and 
Improvement  in  Religion,  efpecially  in  all  the  devotionary 
Parts  thereof.  They  are  as  it  were  the  Wings  of  the  Soul, 
■whereby  it  is  carried  forth  in  all  the  A&s  of  holy  Joy  and 
Tranfport ;  Contrition  and  Mourning ;  Fervency  and  Zeal, 
and  the  like.  But  now  what  is  more  fuited  and  adapted 
to  excite  and  preferve  thefe  Affections  in  their  due  and 
proper  Exercife,  than  Mufic  and  Harmony  ?  Whether  the 
religious  Soul  be  wholly  employed  upon  Subjects  of  Con- 
trition and  Penitence,  Sorrow  and  Mourning,  Mufic  can 
furnHh  it  with  melancholy  and  graver  Ayres ;  Or,  if  it 
dwells  upon  Themes  of  Joy  and  Praife,  the  loud  and 
fprightly  Notes  of  the  more  chearful  Keys  (hall  raife  the 
Soul  to  GOD,  the  Author  of  all  good,  and  the  Object  of 
all  our  high  Praifcs*  And  fo  of  the  reft.  Wherefore  we 
frequently  fin4  the  /west  PfalmiH  of  Ifrael   fending  his 

Pialms 


l8  The  Jweet  Pfalmift  of  IfraeU 

Pfalms  and  Odes  to  the  Chief  Mufici  an,  to  be  fet  to  theftf 
or  thofe  Tunes  then  praclifed  in  the  Church  of  IfratU 
And  the  Inscriptions  and  Titles  of  the  Pfalms  do  hint  to 
\is  his  Directions  to  the  Mailer  of  Mufic  in  this  Matter. 
Altho'  the  Tunes  then  in  Ufe,  and  their  Names  and  Keys 
are  now  to  be  reckoned  among  the  Res  deptrdits.,  loft  in 
the  Ruins  of  Antiquity. 

BUT  now  we  hava  been  difcourfing  of  Mufic,  as  it  is 
able  to  excite  and  prefer* e  proper  and  fuitable  Pajjions  and 
Affections,  and  to  aiiift  the  Soul  in  the  due  Exercife  of  them, 
agreeable  to  the  Variety  of  Themes  or  Subjects  about 
-which  it  is  converfant ;  we  are  by  a  natural  Tranfition  to 
pafs  on  to  the  Confideration  of  Mufic  in  its  Conjunction 
with  Divine  Poefy.   Wherefore, 

2.  AS  MUSIC  in  it  felf  and  feperately  confidered  k 
Sweet,  fo  much  more  does  it  deferve  that  Char after,  when 
confidered  in  its  Conjunction  with  DIVINE  POESY.  Mufic 
joined  with  Numbers  is  in  a  tranfeendent  Degree  Sweet* 
Kircher  t  in  his  Book  intituled,  The  great  Art  of  Concord, 
and  Difcord,  among  the  Four  Things  requisite  to  move 
and  affecl:  the  Soul,  reckons  that  as  a  principal  one,  viz* 
efficacious  and  pathetical  Words  joined  with  the  Harmony 
or  Mufic.  Thus  the  Phrygian  Mufic,  of  which  fuch  migh- 
ty and  wonderful  Effects  were  boafted  by  Antiquity,  was 
a  fort. of  enthvfiajlic  Harmony,  or  fpeaking  Melody.  Which 
tho'  it  is  to  be  added  to  the  Catalogue  of  the  loft  Sciences, 
yet  is  it  in  fome  Meafure  imitable,  by  fuiting  and  adapt- 
ing Tunes  to  the  Subject  Matter  of  the  Song. 

HERE  therefore  in  general  a  good  Verfion  of  the  Pfalms 
is  to  be  pleaded  for,  where  moving  Words  and  moving  Sounds 
go  together  *.  Dr.  Woodford's  Words  in  his  Preface  to  his 
Piraphraje  on  the  Pfalms  may  be  here  recited,  and  if  he 
i'peaks  wrong,  let  his  Fellow-Poets  anfwer  for   him. 

"  How  miferably,  fays  he,  have  the  greateft  Part  of 
"  Tranllators  been  overfeen,  whilft  ail  their  Fains  has  been 

"be 

t  Vid.  Kircher.  Ve  Arte  Magna  Confoni  &  Dijfoni.  *  Vid. 
(juintilian  Ihft.  Qrat.  Lib.  6.  Cap.  De  Diyiftone  af'ectnum  &  gwo- 

modo  moyendi. 


The  fmet  Tfalmift  of  IfraeU  ij 

■ 

<l  bellowed  to  compofe  a  few  ill  contrived  Cadences,  put- 
"  ting  themfelves  to  an  unimaginable  Torture  to  make 
u  thofe  Conceptions  intollerable  by  the  ftraitnefs  of  Verfe, 
<e  which  elfe  might  have  done  well  enough  in  loofer  Profe. 
u  To  them  are  we  bsholden  for  the  low  Eileem  Poefy  now 
<c  has  amongft  us,  tho'  at  the  fame  time  they  have  not 
c<  only  rendred  that  ridiculous,  but  humbled  Divinity, 
"f  which  fupplies  the    Poet  with  his  nobleft   and  moft 

V  lofty  Subjects.  You  may  in  the  Pfalms  fee  Divinity 
J?  flourifhing  upon  the  Root  of  Poefy,  and  that  again  load- 
"  ed  with  the  generous  Productions  of  Divinity  \  both  fo 
"  infeparably  united  each  to  other,  that  like  Stock  and 
<c  Cyon  they  make    but    one    Plant,  and  leave  it    hard 

V  to  be  judged,  whether  the  Author  were  the  greater  Di- 
11  vine  or  Poet.  And  hence  the  Title  oiVates  comprehend- 
xi  ed  both  thofe  fublime  Functions  of  a  Divine  and  zPoet, 
Thus  far  he.  if  And  what  he  fays,  is  much  more  moderate 
and  tollerable  than  that  bitter  and  farcastical  Exprcllion 
of  Cowly,  ||  that  f uch  Tranflators  feem  to  him  to  revile  Urn 
vporfe  than  Shimei.  But  to  have  done  with  a  Topic,  which 
may  incur  Difpleafure,  I  am  bold  to  affirm,  ihat  there  is  no 
Profe  fo  intollerable  as  ordinary  Verfe* 

WHAT  we  are  now  more  efpecially  to  fpeak  to,  is 
this,  that  if  we  defcend  to  the  particular  Subjects  of  Divine 
Poefy,  it  will  at  firffc  Thought  be  granted,  that  the  Words 
and  Matter  of  our  fpiritual  Songs,  fuited  and  fet  to  a  pro- 
per Mufic,  convey  a  wonderful  Charm  into  the  Soul  of  a 
religious  Worfhipper.  The  fweetnefs  of  thefe  in  their 
Conjunction  is  truly  Ineffable ! 
To  be  brief  ; 

EVEN  Contrition  and  Sorrow  for  Sin,  are  fweet  Subjects 
of  Mufic  to  a  penitent  Soul.  To  confefs  our  Sins  in  a  Pfalm, 
O  how  fweet  is  it !  The  Mufic  gives  a  refrefhing  Vent  to 

our 


*  Now  we  are  on  the  Head  of  good  Words  joined  with  good  Mu- 
fic, let  me  take  Notice  of  a  very  great  Fault  in  our  Verfion  of 
the  Pfalms,  obferved  to  me  by  a  Minifter  once  in  a  private  Con- 
vention :  Said  he,  How  ill  that  grave  and  mournful  Pfalm  137, 
fu its  with  the  Metre,  which  is  a  perfeft  Sec  of  jingles. 

J|  Preface  to  his  Pindaric  Odes, 


lb  if*  fweet  Tfalmifl  cf  Ifraei; 

our  prefling  Grief,  and  relieves  the  Agonies  of  the  Mind, 
While  the  Soul  is  pouring  out  it  felf  in  the  moft  melting 
Strains,  it  conceives  the  fenfe  of  the  Love  of  God,  and  the 
alfurance  of  a  Pardon  and  Intereft  in  his  Favour  The 
kindly  Contrition  is  mixed  with  an  holy  Joy  thro*  the 
Love  of  God  (hed  abroad  in  the  Soul  / 

AGAIN,  The  Themes  of  Sort ow  and  Mourning  thro"  Lojfes 
and  Trouble  and  Jffliftions,  may  by  a  good  life  0/ Mufic,  and 
Pfalms,  he  converted  into  the  mo fl  glorious  Strains  of  Piety* 
The  Vanity  of  the  World  and  all  its  fading  Joys,  the  tof- 
fmg  Inquietudes  and  bitter  CroiTes  of  a  Chriftian,  as  they 
ought  not  to  hurry  him  into  a  criminal  Anxiety  or  Mur- 
muring, Difcontent,  or  Diffidence  ;  fo  he  can  calmly  turn 
them  into  a  Song.  And  as  he  believes  there  is  an  Harmony 
of  Juftice  Wifaom  and  Mercy  in  all  the  Difpenfations  of 
Providence,  how  difcordant  and  uncouth  foever  they  may 
appear,  fo  his  Soul  and  his  Voice  afford  you  a  lively  Em- 
blem of  his  fweet  Refignation  to,  and  harmonious  Acqui* 
efcence  in  them. 

BUT  to  proceed ;  The  Precepts  of  our  Duty  are  a  fit 
Matter  for  a  Pfalm,  and  O  how  fweet.  is  it  with  holy  Da- 
vid, to  make  the  Statutes  of  God  our  Songs  !  \\  Holy  Re- 
fnlv.tions  and  pious  Vows  fent  up  to  Heaven  in  the  plea- 
fant  Conveyance  of  Mufic  and  Pfalms,  O  how  Sweet  is  the 
Exercife  1  Nothing  can  more  engage  and  difpofe  the  reli- 
gious Mind  to  the  Performance  of  thole  Vows,  than  this 
i'weet  Manner  of  Uttering  them.  *  Thus  to  make  Religion 
and  the  Lavs  of  God  the  Theme  of  our  Songs,  argues 
an  enlarged  Soul  running  with  Vigour  and  Alacrity  the 
Ways  of  his  Commandments !  With  an  holy  Chearfulnefs 
and  a  certain  Strength  of  Joy  he  lings,  0  how  do  I  love  thy 
Law,  it  is  my  Meditation  all  the  Day\  thy  Tejlimonies  are 
Wondeiful,  therefore  doth  my  Soul  keep  them  !   t 

Once  more,  OUR  Prayers  are  fweetly  and  glorioujly  Con~ 
veyed  to  Heaven  in  the  Chariot  of  Mufic  and  Praife !  when 
we  turn  our  very  Supplications  into  Joy,  thro'  a  ftrong 
Faith  and  AlTurance  of  an  Anfwer.  When  we  fmg  the 
Promifes,  the  Benefits,  the  Mediator,  and  the  God  of  the 

New 


jj  PfJ.  11$.  ji.  *  Pfal.  u6.  i2.  to  the  hni,   f  *f«l-  **?•  97-  "9« 


Jbefwect  Tfalmift  of  IfraeL  it 

New  Covenant,  and  mix  a  grateful  Variety  of  Praife  and 
Prayer.  Such  a  Saint,  is  he  in  Heaven,  or  is  he  on  Earth  i 
Indeed  the  Matter  of  his  Song  is  Prayer^  and  fo  belongs  to 
one  on  this  fide  Heaven  5  but  his  Soul  And  his  Voice  would 
make  you  think  him  aftually  therey  in  the  full  PolTeflioa 
and  Fruition  of  what  he  is  praying  for! 

LET  me  add;  The  Triumphs  of  the  Redeemed  are  left 
founded  forth  in  the  Songs  of  Zion\  t  Their  glorious  Victo- 
ries over  Sin  and  the  World,  Death  and  Hell,  thro1  the 
Blood  of  the  Lamb  ;  as  on  Earth  they  begin  thefe  Songs 
of  Triumph,  and  raife  their  Notes  in  Proportion  to  the 
JProgrefs  and  Greatnefs  of  them  ;  fo  when  in  Heaven  they 
fhall  commence  perfeft  and  compleat  Vigors,  they  (hall 
tune  their  Harps  to  loud  and  everlafting  Strains  of  Joy  I 

Finally,  JDORJTION  and  Praife  of  God  the  Tather% 
Chrift  the  Redeemer,  and  the  holy  Spirit  the  Sanftifier  of  tht 
Church,  -and  the  Jpplier  of  Redemption  to  it,  are  a  IweeC 
Song  that  Jb all  never  have  an  End  I  The  Perfections,  the 
Bounties,  and  the  Grace  of  the  Everliving  JbHovah,  Ba~ 
ther,  Son,  and  holy  Gboft,  the  Fountain  of  aii  Good,  and 
Life  and  Happinefs,  are  inexhauftible  Themes  of  Praife, 
CHRIST  the  Redeemer,  the  glorious  and  incomprehenfible 
God-Man,  the  Sacrifice  for  the  Sins  of  the  World,  the  Pur- 
chafer  and  Sender  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  the  glorified  Head 
of  the  Church,  and  the  Author  of  Eternal  Life  to  all  that 
believe,  are  a  Subjeft  of  everlafting  Hallelujahs !  * 

EVEN  the  Mercies  of  common  Providence  ought  to  fill  our 
Mouths  with  thePraifesof  God;  but  the  vail  and  infi- 
nite Bequefts  of  the  Kingdom  of  Grace,  and  the  Hopes, 
Pledges  and  Foretafts  of  the  Bleilings  of  the  Kingdom  of 
Glory,  O,  how  fhould  they  roufe  and  conftrain  us  to  call 
upon  our  Sauls  and  all  within  us,  to  bUfs  and  praife  his  holy 

Name, 

fiyi*/.  97.  8.  P/d/.  146.  and  247.  xi,  13.  and  148.  14  and  149. 
JP/4/.  14.7.  Ifai.  51.7,8,$.  and  51.3.  11.  *ni  innumerable  other 
glorious  Prophefies  of  the  Viclnries  of  the  Church.  *  Rey.  4.  8  to  the 
End-  and  5.  9.  to  the  End.  AgloriwsIteprcfentathnoftbeQmres 
And  Antipbomes  oft.be  heavenly  WorJhiP,  where  they  anfwer  one  ano» 
tbet  in  the  fxoeet  Echoes  of  the  Praifis  »f  .Q96  ayi  \hfffi*     Qd& 

Sjm  m  2»<g  w  #*>  J9}»  $hsw  I 


5*  The  J meet  Tfalmiji  of  Ifrael; 

Name,  and  upon  our  Glory ,  (that  is,  our  Voice)  to  awa!(e 
and  join  in  the  eternal  Confort ! 

O  hew  fweet,  how  fweet  is  Praife  !  How  fie af ant  and 
)  comely  to  fing  to  our  God1  While  I  have  Breath,  0  Lord, 
my  God  and  my  Redeemer,  I  will  employ  it  in  celelrating  xhy 
Hame  and  thy  Praife  ! 

BUT  it  is  high  Time  to  pafs  to  the  Second  Thing  to  be 
obferved  in  the  Text,  which  I  muft  but  juft  touch  upon, 
and  which  I  wifh  were  to  be  enlarged  upon  by  a  better  Pen. 

• 

II.  LET  us  eonfider  the  Honour  done  to  David  the  fweet 
Pfalmifl  and  King  of  Ifrael,  in  this  Record  concerning  him. 
The  Mention  of  him  as  \\iz  fweet  Pfalmifl  of  Ifrael,  and  the 
Tradition  of  this  his  Character  to  the  lateft  Ages  of  Time 
in  the  Hiflory  of  Scripture,  is  to  be  reckoned  among  none 
©f  the  fmalleft  Honours  done  to  this  Man  of  God.    Here 

I.  GOD  himfelfhas  put  a  great  Honour  upon  him  in  this 
Record*  And  he  is  moil  affuredly  the  bell  Judge  of  Ho- 
nour \  yea,  he  is  the  Fountain  from  whence  all  true  Ho- 
nour derives  ;  and  his  Approbation  and  Teftimony  is  the 
higheil  Dignity  that  can  be  conferred  upon  Mortals.  God 
himfelf  has  here  made  his  Name,  as  a  Jweet  Singer,  vene- 
rable and  great,  by  allowing  it  a  Place  in  his  own  Word 
and  Oracles,  which  are  the  Regifler  of  the  Worthies  of 
Ifrael. 

BUT  this  is  not  all  the  Honour  done  to  King  David,  and 
fo  to  all  that  have  improved  themfelves  in  this  Divine 
Art  of  Mufic  and  Pfalmody,  that  he  is  there  mentioned  with 
Applaufe  and  Refpeft  ;  but  the  Manner  of  this  Record  is 
a  very  honourable  Circumftance.  This  Part  of  his  Cha- 
raft  er  f eems  to  be  put  upon  a  fort  of  Parity  with  his  Re- 
gal Dignity  and  Imperial  Glory.  The  Man  who  was  raifed 
on  high,  the  anointed  of  the  God  of  Jacob,  THE  SWEET 
PS •JL  MIST  OF  ISRAEL  I  The  fweet  Pfalmifl  of  Ifrael, 
and  the  anointed  of  the  God  of  Jacob,  are  not  unworthy  of 
one  another.  The  great  Services  this  Man  of  God  per- 
formed for  the  Church  in  the  Capacity  of  a  Pfalmifl,  are 


eileemed 


j  PjaU  147.  i»    \ 


The  fweet  Tfatmif!  of  Ifrael;  fi'f 

efteemed  worthy  to  be  enumerated  with  the  Kingly  Ho- 
nours conferred  upon  him  by  the  God  of  Heaven,  and 
the  glorious  Adminiflration  of  his  Kingdom.  Nor  is 
King  David  the  only  Perfon  to  whom  Heaven  has  done 
the  Honour  of  a  Record  in  the  Lifts  of  Fame ;  The 
Scriptures  afford  us  fuch  a  Number  of  thefe  Inftances, 
as  the  Time  would  fail  us  to  mention.  Even  from  Ju- 
hal  the  "Father  of all  fuch  as  handle  the  Harp  and  Organ, 
to  ||  the  hundred  and  forty  four  thoufand,  who  fung  hefore 
the  Throne  a  new  Song,  and  could  learn  to  play  upon  their 
Golden  Harps.  Mofes  and  Miriam,  Jfaph  and  Haman9 
and  a  Multitude  of  thofe  who  excelled  in  this  fweet 
and  heavenly  Skill,  are  honoured  by  God  with  a  Record 
in  his  Word.  But  to  conclude  this  Head,  Not  only  in 
this  World  will  God  put  all  poffible  Marks  of  Refpecl 
and  Honour  upon  them ;  but  in  the  other  he  will  ap- 
plaud and  reward  them  before  Men  and  Angels;  exalt- 
ing them  into  the  higheft  Quires  of  them  that  fing  the 
Praifes  of  God  to  all  Eternity. 

2.  THE  Church  of  Sahtts  and  Angels  will  honour  them* 
The  Saints  revere  them  as  Leaders  of  the  J^iiire,  and  do 
not  fail  to  make  an  honourable  Mention  of  them,  as 
Reftorers  of  the  Worfhip  of  God,  the  Promotion  and 
Perfection  whereof  lie  very  near  their  Hearts.  Upon 
the  Coniideration  of  thefe  their  Services  to  God  and 
Religion,  their  Names  are  not  only  had  in  Refpecl:  by 
the  Churches  of  Chrift  while  they  live,  but  ihall  be  had 
in  Remembrance,  and  diffufe  a  fweet  Odour,  be  as  an 
Oyntment  poured  forth,  to  all  Pofterity.  The  Churches 
frail  blefs  them  after  they  are  dead  and  gone,  and  re- 
member all  their  laudable  ElTays  to  render  their  Worihip 
of  God,  fweet  and  beautiful,  orderly  and  edifying.  Then 
iftall  it  be  faid  of  the  Church,  This  and  that  Man  was  bom 
of  her,  who  excelled  in  the  heavenly  Exercife  of  M ufic  and 
offinging  of  Pfalms.  Thefe  were  they  who  firft  taught  us 
to  fing  the  Songs  of  Zion,  and  after  the  beft  Manner  to 
chant  forth  the  Praifes  of  our  God  !    Thus  do  the  Church* 

of 


\tmtm**l—*r 


II  QeUt  /§•  »r  &?*  M<  h  h  it 


24  The  fvoect  Tfalmijl  of  Ifraei: 

of  Saints  honour  them,  as  they  are  an  Honour  and  Orna- 
ment to  the  Church. 

YEA  the  Church  of  Angels,  who  always  rejoice  in  the 
good  Improvements  of  the  Church  on  Earth,  conceive  no 
Fmall  Delight  and  Satisfaction  in  the  EiTays  of  the  Chil- 
dren of  Men  to  imitate  their  Hallelujahs,  and  bring  them 
as  near  as  poffible  to  the  fame  heavenly  Perfection.  They 
being  Witneifes  of  our  Worlhip,  and  ever  prefent  in  the 
AiTemblies  of  the  Saints,  are  highly  gratified  to  behold 
us  ftriving  to  bear  a  Part  in  their  Quire.  They  look  up- 
on us  with  Honour  and  Refpect ;  and  as  by  the  Gofpel 
we  are  brought  to  join  *  the  innumerable  Company  of  An- 
gels, that  fiag  the  Praifes  of  God  ;  fo  the  Day  is  flatten- 
ing, when  they  fhall  not  difdain  in  the  fulleft  Confort  to 
unite  with  us  in  founding  forth  the  Songs  and  Melodies 
of  the  heavenly  Zion :  taking  us  into  an  everlafting  Part- 
nerfhip  in  their  caeleftial  Muiic  and  Harmonies. 

FROM  the  whole  we  learn  the  Honour  due  to  zfvreet 
Pfalmifi,  and  which  God  and  Saints  and  Angels  fhall  pay 
them  upon  the  fcore  of  fo  fine  and  religious  an  Accom- 
plifhmeiit.  Let  me  only  obferve  here,  that  as  not  only 
the  greateft  and  moil  worthy  Ferfons  mentioned  in  the 
Scripture  Hiftory  were  fond  of  this  Skill,  and  efteemed  it 
none  of  the  fmalleir.  of  their  Acquifitions  and  Honours  ; 
fo  alfo  great  Men  of  all  Ages  have  had  this  Science  in  Ve- 
neration. Among  the  Heathen,  as  Quinttlian  informs  us  if 
Men  moll  famous  for  Wifdom,  yea  and  of  the  fevereft  Mo- 
rals, did  in  no  fmall  Meafure  cultivate  this  Divine  Aru 
Such  were  Pythagoras,  Socrates,  Plato,  &c.  Yea  fays  he, 
not  only  the  greateft  Philofophers  and  mfe  Men,  but  Princes 
and  great  Captains  did  not  difdain  to  play  upon  Mufjcai 
Inftruments,  and  fing  to  them  with  their  Voices.  Such 
were  Lycurgus  and  others  which  he  there  mentions. 

But 


»  Heb.  ix.  xx.  f  Vid.  Quint  Uftit.  Orat.  Lib.  i.  Cap.  i*.  De  Mu* 
ka  er  ejus  Laud'tbus,  J\  ty,  finiii  maximm  C  fdibm  &  ?*• 
jjj  tteiriiJi**  ibid. 


The  fweet  TfalmiS  of  Ifraet  25 

BTJT  what  is  more  to  our  Purpofe,  there  have  not  been 
wanting  (as  Hiftory  informs  us)  Inftances  of  fomeof  the 
greatest  Princes  that  have  ever  been  in  the  Cbriftian  World9 
as  well  as  the  Pagan,  who  had  this  Art  in  the  higheft 
Efteem  and  Honour.  Witnefs  the  great  Names  of  Conftan- 
tine,Theodofius,  and  Jujlinian,  Charles  the  Great,  and  others. 
Some  of  which  have  compofed  Hymns  of  Praife  toChrift, 
and  all  of  them  were  famous  for  their  Performances  of 
Mufic  in  the  Airemblies  of  the  Chrifiians.  Not  to  mention 
any  of  a  more  modern  Date,  who  have  not  thought  it 
beneath  their  Grandeur,  but  to  be  their  trueft  Glory,  to 
be  lifted  and  numbered  among  the  Singers  of  Ifrael! 

THERE  remains  ftill  One  Exemple  more  of  a  Sweet  Pfal- 
viiji,  which  is  fo  great  and  fo  glorious,  that  it  is  impoffi- 
ble  Mufic  and  Pfalmcdy  ihould  derive  any  further  Honours 
from  its  ProfelTors  and  Admirers,  than  what  it  has  from 
His  Practice  and  Approbation  thereof,  and  that  is  our  blef- 
ted  Lord  and  Saviour  JESUS  CHRIST.  Of  whom  it  is  re- 
corded by  fome  of  the  Evangehfis,  that  at  the  Inftitution 
and  Celebration  of  the  Eucbarift  or  holy  Suffer,  He  \\  fang 
tin  Hymn  with  his  Difciples.  I  have  often  thought  how 
jrielodiouily  and  divinely  Sweet,  that  bleiTed  Man,  who 
was  niore  than  a  Man,  and  who  knew  all  the  infinite  Va- 
rieties, and  even  unfearchable  Melodies,  that  lie  hid  in  the 
Nature  of  Sounds,  performed  his  Part  in  the  Confort.  And 
then  how  luddenly  and  infenfibly  are  we  rapt  and  carried 
away  in  our  Thoughts  to  Heaven,  to  behold  him  there 
at  the  Head  of  the  immortal  Quires  of  the  Saints  and  An- 
gels above  /■  But  the  Theme  is  too  Sublime,  the 
Thought  too  Vaft  to  be  indulged  by  a  mortal  Quill,  .and 
it  is  not  lawful  to  utter  freely  upon  it  5  deferving  rather 
to  be  adored  in  profound  Silence,  than  to  fuffer  thro*  our 
rude  and  unhallowed  Eflays  to  defcribe  it!-  All  I  mail 
add  is  this,  Behold  the  Son  of  God  as  a  fweet  Pfalmft,  and 
allow  the  Charader  from  henceforward  to  be  truly  great 
and  honourable  1 

C 

Eut 


•  —     ■  ■»— — fta 


Matt.  z6.  $0,  Mark  14.-16, 


26 ,  Tie  fweet  Tfalmifl  of  Ifrael. 

BUT  we  muft  haften  to  make  a  brief  Application  of 
the  Words. 

APPLICATION. 

USE  I.  WHAT  a  pity  and  what  a  flame  is  it  to  abufefo 
fweet  and  heavenly  an  Art  to  the  bafe  Ends  and  Defigns  of 
Impiety,  Vice  and  Debauchery!  To  commit  fuch  a  Sacti- 
Jege,  as  to  ptoftitute  our  Glory  ||  to  the  Devil,  and  ferve 
the  Interefts  of  Hell  thro*  the  Means  of  this  heavenly 
Science !  Verily,  Such  Mufic  fhall  finilh  in  everlafting 
Weeping,  Wailing  and  Gnathing  of  Teeth  I 

USE  II.  HOW  ought  we  to  labour  after  theCbarafter  of 
holy  David.  I  hope  and  truft,  My  Brethren,  that  your 
good  Exemple  will  in  this  Regard,  be  of  good  Influence 
to  the  Churches  of  Chrift  in  this  Land,  that  they  may 
alfo  ufe  all  poilible  Endeavours  to  reftore  banijhed  Mufic 
to  itt  ancient  Seat  in  the  Temple  of  God.  That  they  may 
be  ftirred  up  and  encouraged  to  come  into  this  noble  and 
pious  Defign  of  ref cuing  the  divine  Science  of  Pfalmody 
from  all  the  Difadvantages  and  Encumbrances,  it  now  la- 
bours under,  and  of  reducing  it  to  its  primitive  Form  and 
ancient  Perfection.  All  compleatly  conducive  to  Decency 
and  good  Order,  and  in  the  End  to  the  Glory  of  God. 

SIRS,  CovfiJer  God  will  honour  and  blefs  you*  For  they 
"who  honour  God,  he  will  honour  them  *.  They  who  have 
been  much  employed  in  advancing  the  Glory  of  God,  and 
the  Edification  of  his  Church,  {hall  never  want  Teftimo~ 
nies  of  RefpeCl  and  Honour  from  him. 

•  AND  the  Churches  of  our  Lord  Jefus  Chrift,  and  the 
Jngels  above  will  honour  you ;   your  Names  fhall   be  pre- 
cious  and  fweet  with  them.    And,  as  we  faid  before,   we 
that  are  truly  follicitous  and  careful  to  excel  in  the  Per- 
formance 

11  *j(W-  57-8.     *  i  $am.  %.  3. 


The  fweet  Tfalmijl  of  Ifrael.  i> 

formance  of  our  Part  in  the  Songs  of  the  Temple  here  on 
Earth,  viz.  to  improve  in  the  external  and  mechanical  Skill 
of  fweetly  modulating  the  Voice,  and  the  internal  and  fpt- 
ritual  Skill  of  true  Devotion  of  Soul,  (hall  not  fail  of  an 
exalted  Seat  in  the  glorious  Chin  of  Heaven* 

WHEREFORE,  let  us  above  all  labour  after  the  inward 
Kirmony  of  Piety  and  Devotion  of  Mind.  Studying  to 
make  Melody  to  the  Lord  in  out  Hearts.  In  the  harmo- 
nious Vehicle  of  our  Voices  fending  up  to  Heaven  the 
inward  holy  Sentiments  and  Difpolitions  of  out  Souls. 
Such  an  Agreement  of  jj  Heart  and  Voice  is  a  fweet  Sym- 
pho?iy  in  the  Ears  of  God,  and  with  fuch  Sacrifices  of  Praifs 
he  is  well  fleafed  ! 

USE  III.  Lair.  WE  may  from  the  Doftdnal  Part  of 
this  Difcourfe  infer  the  infinite  Sweetnefs  of  the  Songs  of 
the  heavenly  World.  The  Ecfiajies  that  our  hoarfer  Har- 
mony here  below  is  able  to  call  us  into,  are  well  known  ; 
but  O  the  Perfection  of  the  Songs  above  1  O  the  ineffable 
Sweetnefs  of  the  Anthems  founded  forth  by  Saints  and 
Angels!  What  mortal  Tongue  can  defcribe  them !  Who 
in  the  prefent  State  of  Imperfection  can  conceive  the  ra- 
v ifhing  Echoes  of  their  Mufic  I 

THERE  the  Saints  (hall  bepofieiTed  of  Bodies,  and  hodily 
Organs,  which  {hall  be  perfectly  fitted  and  adapted  to  all 
the  Defigns  of  Harmony  and  Praife.  This  glorious  Ad- 
vantage mall  accrue  to  them  from  the  RefurreStion  of  tte 
JuH. 

THERE  alfo  (hall  they  be  endued  with  bright  &  enlarge 
ed  Minds,  to  indite  Words  which  it  is  not  poflible  for  Man 
in  our  State  of  Darknefs  and  Mortality  to  utter,  Myfteri- 
ous  Themes  /   Incomprehenfible  Mufic  / 

THE 


\sNon  Vox,  fed  Votum  $  non  Mufic a,  Chordula,  fed  Cor:    Non 
<tUmor,fed  Amor,  ffallit  in  Aure  Dei, 


J& 


The  fvoeet  Tfalmitt  of  IlraeE 


THE  God  of  all  Grace  grant,  that  You  and  I  may 
another  Day  hear  and  join  them  !  That  we  may  experimen- 
tally know  what  is  paft  our  prefent  Comprehenfion  ; 
That  we  may  faithfully  perform  our  Part  in  the  Songs  of 
the  Church  here  below,  and  at  length  may  be  introduced 
into  the  eternal  Temple  of  God  above,  to  fmg  hisPiaifes 
for  ever  and  ever !  # 

O  Let  every  Thing  that  hath  Breath,  fraife  the  Lord  ! 
While  I  live  will  I  fraife  the  Lord  ;  /  will  fing  Praifes  to 
my  God  while  J  have  a  Being !  AMEN. 


FIN  I  S. 


.^J 


mm 


The  fzveet  Pfalmifi  of  Ifrael 


SERMON 

Preach'd  at  the  Lefture  held  in  Boston, 
by  the  Society  for  promoting 

Regular  &  Good  Singing, 

And  for  Reforming  the 
Depravations  and  Debafements 

OUR 

PSALMODY   labours  under, 
In  order  to  introduce  the  proper  and  true 

Old  Way  of  SINGING. 


Now  publifhed  at  ihe  Defire  of  ieveial  Ministers 
that  heard  it,  and  at  the  Requeffc  of  the  Society 
aforefaid. 

By  Thomas  Walter,  M.  A. 

Minifterof  a  Church  in  Roxhury. 

Pfal.  ico.  *.—  Come  Before  his  Frefence  with  Singing. 
PfaL  147.   X.  Trd'tfe  ye  the  lord^  for  it  is  good    to  Jtr.g 
Praifes  to  our  God  $  for  it  ispleafAntj  and  Frqife  is  comely. 


BOSTON:  Printed  by  J.  Franklin,  for  S.  Gerrijb, 
near  the  Brick  Meeting-Houfe  in  Cor ?iJj:U,    1711, 


OF  SALE. 


• 


-«> 


s?ys^ 


-4fe 


W? 


